March 2, 2026 • 28 mins
The final hour widens the lens to examine potential global consequences. Hannity covers concerns about Iranian retaliation, sleeper cells inside the U.S., and the Austin, Texas shooting under investigation for possible terror links. Texas AG Ken Paxton joins to discuss border failures under the Biden administration and the risk of unvetted entrants. Hannity connects decades of Iranian aggression — from Beirut to Iraq — to the necessity of Operation Epic Fury. He warns against complacency, argues that strength prevented a nuclear-armed Iran, and reiterates that the next chapter now belongs to the Iranian people.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, news round up in Information Overload hour. Here's
our toll free number. We will get to your calls.
Eight hundred and nine point one seawn our number if
you want to be a part of the program. You
know it's not a joke. I mean, it was kind
of funny when the US hockey gold medal winning hockey
team was called out by the President during the State
of the Union and the President goes, oh, for the
(00:21):
first time, they actually stood, but not all of them.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I mean that was funny.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Or when they stood when he said that you can't
have insider trading, and he asked, well, is Nancy Pelosi's
staying It was all pretty funny. If Donald Trump cured cancer,
I don't think Democrats would stand as they sat on
their hands, as as so many great Americans and families
that had lost loved ones because of illegal immigrants were honored.
(00:48):
They didn't care. They just had Donald Trump to that level.
And this is a great thing that has happened. The
world is a better, safer place as a result. And yeah,
there's still more to do. I don't want to get
ahead of ourselves. And I think now that you know,
as soon as we can possibly turn it over to
the Iranian people, the better it's going to be. But then,
(01:10):
of course you have the congenital liar and people like him,
you know, Adam Schiff.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Oh, they pose no imminent threat to the US.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
This was an existential threat not just to the region
but to the entire world, which is why every Arab
country in the world, you know, in the region has
has had it with them. They've they've all aligned with
the US and Israel against Iranian hegemony and a nuclear
armed Iran. Anyway, here's the congenital liar, Adam Schiff in.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Ayatoa how many letter regime that brutalize its own people,
wash attacks around the world for for almost forty years.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
So is the president right to take him out?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
No, you're right about the I told that he was
a brutal dictator. This is a murderous regime, but at
the same time, it posed no imminent threat of attack
to the United States.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
He word no imminent threat you mean in the next hour.
I mean, it's just so asinine. And this is where
the great disappointment with Great Britain and Europe in general,
and Spain and France and Macron. I mean, they've given
up any commitment towards their own identities. They won't even
(02:18):
protect their own continent, their own countries. They have neglected
national security and defense. They've embraced climate alarmism to a
point where they're bankrupting themselves. They've embraced socialist policies that
are killing their economy, and then they have this unfettered
illegal immigration without assimilation, resulting in eighty five sureia courts
(02:42):
in Great Britain. This is a prescription for disaster and
it will be of their own making. It's as bad
as everything Biden, Harris may Orchis did. And no go
zones in countries within Europe. That's crazy too. It's only
one Democrat. You'll be all with those again tonight. John
Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who's been very outspoken saying that this
(03:06):
needed to be done. Here's what he said Sunday.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Well, because that was.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Always the right thing. I mean, you can just put out,
you know, tweets and statements you know, to support peace,
but to actually create real peace you have to do
these kinds of actions just like happened, just like last
year too, when they to destroy their nuclear facilities. You know,
sometimes peace is possible after these kinds of steps, and
(03:31):
that's why I support those things. And you know, I
listened to my colleague from South Carolina earlier and I
even had the option, I mean to talk to him
before the State of the Union speech, and I encouraged
it as well. And so I fully support these kinds
of things. And I'm proud to stand with our military
and Israel through this. And that's what's the right thing.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Linda lives in Pennsylvania, I'm sure you'd vote for John federerman,
Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
No, He's better than most of the Republicans. It really is.
Let me play for you.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Mauj Madara, co founder of the Iranian dispor Collective and
a Democrat, saying she's disappointed with the Democratic Party over
their response to these Iranian strikes. They need to get
past their hatred of Donald Trump.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Listen.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
I think that it is imperative the Democratic Party wake
up and get past their dislike of Donald Trump, the
President Trump, and their feelings of international conflicts going on.
This is about national security. This is about what is
possible in the Middle East. This is about being a
good partner to our the Gulf States and what their
aspirations are. This is about supporting the people of Venezuela.
(04:46):
This is about dismembering our relationship with or not dismembering,
but resetting our relationship with China. Right now, fifty five
percent of the oil production that Uran produces goes to
China despite sanctions. You want to support the people of Ukraine,
you want to end that word, you have to. There
is no getting around dismembering this Islamic Republic. It is
non negotiable. It is not a want to have, it
(05:08):
does a have to have. And it's not just for
the Iranian people. I think you have to trust the
Iranian people.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
We know this.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
Government better than anyone else, and I think at this
point we have a tremendous opportunity. This will be like
ending the Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall. This is a
transformational moment for humankind, for security and as an American,
As an American, this is in our interest.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It complete it.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
So.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
I am a democrat. I have been a huge democrat.
I am incredibly disappointed with my party. I do not
see myself in them in this moment.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
We're going to be joined in a moment by Greg Roman,
Executive Director of the Middle East forum with his comments
takeaways from the developments related to the Mid East following
these strikes, successful strikes and of course the Supreme Leader
and Ali Hamani dead, forty others dead with the opening
(05:59):
salvo and what was just unbelievable. I mean, you talk
about shock awe on steroids and human growth hormone.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This was it.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
But anyway, they have pointed out that with all of this,
the joint US is rarely strikes hitting over you know,
five hundred targets I guess getting closer to one thousand
at this point against across twenty four of Iran's thirty
one provinces. Approximately forty senior military intelligence officials have been killed.
(06:29):
And you know Iran, you know, with all their retaliation,
they just seem to be shooting haphazardly at every country
in the region. Greg Roman, let's get your thoughts on
where we are and what will it take for the
Iranian people to do what President Trump has told them
to do, which is, you know, that take advantage of
the fact that their hour hand is here and they've
(06:51):
asked been asking for this help, that they need to
sieze this moment. Don't let it pass. It's likely the
one shot they'll have for generations and you know what
happens next.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Well, thank you Sean for having me on air. And
I think right now we're at the point where the
current regime, the Islamist Islamic Republic of Iran regime, is
trying to create trip wires for members of the Iranian
opposition inside the country, in neighboring countries and more especially
in the diaspora to try to accept the FATA company
(07:24):
where they will have to tie their fate to the
future of the American and Israeli and now Gulf Arab
campaign in Iran. But the long play is to make
sure that the American national security architecture and the Israeli
bombers and increasingly now we have Arab air forces which
are engaging in skirmishes against the Iranian air force, with
(07:47):
reports of Katari Air Force su twenty force Suko A
twenty fours being taken out or taking out Irani and
Suko twenty fours, where the Iranian opposition is to realize
it's make or break to get their act together and
not to be entirely reliant on the US and Israel
to push the Iranian regime off the cliffs they have
(08:09):
to push too. And if they don't get into that
position of regime disruption, of setting up forward operating bases,
of enabling these one hundred thousand individuals who allegedly have
prepared to defect from the IRGC, from the arteesche the
Iranian Army, then I think this is going to be
an opportunity that they will blow. But if they do
(08:31):
the right moves, if they don't repeat an Ahmed Chalabi moment,
they don't repeat a Hamid Karzai moment, they will repeat
Khadafi downfall moment. There is a narrow window for them
to have a controlled implosion where the state does not
go into chaos, but they are able to maintain a
pooralistic transition to power, where we take President Trump's offer
of amnesty and truth and reconciliation and we move Iran
(08:54):
from being on the Chinese Russian side of the board
and at the bare minimum move them to initial act.
And there's a big opportunity for that. Right now.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Roman is with us. He is the executive director of
the Middle East Forum. What's next for Iran is our discussion.
Explain in more detail what you're envisioning happens here. I mean,
I know you have disparate groups, and Raisa Pavlavi is
one group. Earlier in the program we had on Ali
sofo v of a member of Iran's parliament and exile
(09:25):
National Council of Resistance of Iran not particularly fond of
pub LAB. I mean, the last thing we need is
an intramural squabble when everyone needs to pull in the
same direction and really give the people of Iran the choice. Again,
as the President said, they likely won't get back. You know,
this is once in a generation chance for.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Them, right, And I think that sometimes you end up
having more disagreements with members of the Iranian opposition than
you do with my synagogue board of directors. But that's
the story for another time.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
You have how bad are things that your synagogue board
of directors?
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Well, you know, you say two Jews, three opinions, you
have two versions, twenty one opinions. But you end up
going to a position where right now the MEK and
the Polavi camp have sort of you know, coalaced around
two figures, right, two individuals who are personalities. But personalities
don't represent movements. If you look at groups like the
(10:22):
Iranian Freedom Congress, which got together in London last week.
You take the broad cross section of Iranian society, both
inside the country and outside, and what the Mek and Pelagi,
what have you believe is that an exile of five
million Iranians in the diaspora can speak to and speak
four ninety two million Iranians who are inside the country.
(10:43):
But even if you look at all the public opinion
polls that were done prior to December twenty seventh, when
the latest round of protests started, the shop probably only
gets around thirty one percent at a maximum. And if
you look at the NCRI, the Mek who was represented
by your speaker in the last hour, they pull around
point zero two print. So they do not speak for
(11:07):
the Iranian people inside the country. But this group that
got together last week were former members of the regime
who are now in exile, Individuals who represent teachers, Arab
oil workers, the whole cross section of Azeris and Baluchis
and Kurds and mainstream Persians and monarchists and Republicans, thirty
eight different parties representing I would argue about sixty five
(11:32):
million of those ninety two million Iranians at least that
have some sort of representation got together in London and
they all agreed on one thing. Let's put our problems aside,
make way for the regime to fall, and then we
can work with what's left to be able to make
sure that we have traffic police and the airport's running,
and the water is being served in the dog catchers
(11:53):
on time, and we're able to reopen up the trade
for that country. And they have a whole planet they
put together. But more certainly it's not based on personalities.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's representative who's got this plan, who's going to take
charge of that plan, and how quickly can we get
to elections.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
So elections they believe would be able to take place
within six months, and a referendum for a consultative Assembly
that would then be able to get fourth in one year,
and they would take the way in which the Iranian
system works right now and basically adapt that to not
be Islamis, but they to be democratic. And more than that,
you already have entities right now that have existed inside
the country for the past twenty five years that are
(12:33):
not tied to the regime. If you remember, before the
Twelve Day War back in June, there was a nationwide
truck driver's strike that took place in Iran between like
June first and June seventh. These people are at that table.
If it looks three years ago with the Women Life
Freedom movement that were behind Masamini, these people are at
the table. Three Irani and Nobel laureates, individuals who control
(12:54):
the Couraged Democratic Party under Hajiri five million, the Komala
Party another three million under Abdola Matadi. You really have
a cross section here that would be able to say
we're not going to try to go in a debatification
process that ruined e Rock back in two thousand and three.
We learned our lesson from twenty three years ago, and
(13:14):
we're going to do this the way that Lexilla says.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Okay, but Greg, what about the holdovers?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You know there will be old revolutionary guard that cling
to the life that they had. How do we weed
them out?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
Percent? One hundred percent? And I think that, as I
said beforehand, there has to be a truth and reconciliation
process where look, if you were found responsible for helping
massacre thirty forty fifty thousand members of your country, where
you were involved in hangings in the eighties or massacres
in the nineties, then you're going to have to own
up to that. But if you were a bureaucrat, if
(13:46):
you were the head of the Central Bank, in charge
of the oil ministry, and you just hitched your cart
to the Iatolas horse because you had to do that
to survive, there's also an opportunity to be able to
solve that as well. And I think that just like
you had in Eastern European countries after the fall of
the Wall and reconciliation, even the way that we've looked
at it with East Germany, you have to own up
to your mistakes, and if they're too great, you're going
(14:08):
to be put into jail. But if it was part
of just the way that the government was governed for
the last forty seven years, we'll give you an opportunity
to have respite with us. And if they move in
that direction, I think you really have the opportunity for
a easy transition, but it has to be done under
the threat of American and Israeli superior air power. You're
either with us or you're against us, but not with
(14:29):
any American or Israeli boots on the ground. Has to
be the Iranians making.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Their own decis it's never going to happen under Donald Trump.
I'm telling you right now, won't happen. And I think
that at some point there are hours at hand. They've
asked for this help. They better seize the moment and
not let it pass. As the President said, Greg Roman,
good to talk to you, man. I appreciate it. Great analysis.
Eight hundred and nine to four one, Sean, if you
(14:53):
want to be a part of the program, Linda, I
don't know if you noticed this. Did you notice Hanoi?
Jane is back? Oh, she's the worst, branding Donald Trump
a sad, unhinged man while denouncing him for launching deadly
strikes in Iran. Who cares what she said or any
of these other idiots? Mark Ruffalo, who are the other
(15:15):
idiots in Hollywood?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I mean, if they hadn't.
Speaker 7 (15:18):
A much shorter list to name the ones that aren't,
to be perfectly frank.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
That's a good way to do it. Good point.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
The Pentagon officials earlier today, General raising Kine, this guy's phenomenal,
just an absolute genius. Secretary of War Pete Hegseeth the
Pentagon announcing that US force has struck more than a
thousand targets in Iran. During the first twenty four hours
of Operation Epic Fury, the joint US Israeli led airstrike
(15:53):
mission that killed with in its opening salvo, the Supreme
Leader the the Ayahtola Ali Hamani, and other security officials,
Air Force General Dan Kaine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs,
telling reporters at the Pentagon, that the objective of the
operation was clear to protect US interest in the Middle
(16:14):
East by ending Iran's ability to project offensive power outside
of their borders. This marked a culmination of months and
in some cases years, of deliverer planning refinement against this
particular target set, from precision strikes against key military infrastructure
to persistent intelligence and targeting integration. And he, along with
(16:37):
Pete Hegseth, you know, gave a very very powerful briefing today.
I think it's worth taking time because I know most
of you were not up at eight o'clock in the morning.
If you were, you were shoveling coffee down your throat
and feeding your kids and trying to get them off
to school and start your day. So let me bring
you up to speed because this is actually, you know,
(16:58):
pretty spectacl amazing and you should have a sense of
great pride that we have the greatest military in the
face of God's green earth.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Let's play this.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
At fifteen thirty eight three thirty eight PM on Friday,
February twenty seventh, the United States Central Command, through the
Secretary of War, received the final goal order from President Trump.
The President directed and I quote Operation Epic Furies approved.
Noah borts good luck close quote. In the region, every
(17:30):
element of the Joint Force made their final preparations. Air
defense batteries ready themselves, checking their systems to respond to
Iranian attacks. Pilots and crews rehearse their strike packages for
the final time. Aircrews began loading their final weapons, and
two carrier strike groups began to move towards their launching
points across the globe. Our operation centers came alive in Tampa, Florida,
(17:55):
here at the Pentagon, and of course forward in the
Central Command a war. As always, operational security was paramount
as we sought to maintain and sustain the element of surprise.
This operation was highly classified, so that at each hour
the enemy would see one thing speed, surprise, and violence
(18:17):
of action. The first movers were US Cybercom and US
Space com layering non kinetic effects disrupting and degrading and
blinding Iran's ability to see, communicate, and respond. At h hour,
the beginning of major combat operations zero one fifteen Local
(18:39):
Eastern daylight time nine to forty five local am Tehran time.
As dawn crept up across the Central Command air the
sky surge to life. More than one hundred aircraft launch
from land, sea fighters, tankers, airborne early warning electronic attack
bombers from the States, and unmanned platforms, forming a single
(19:01):
synchronized wave. This was a daylight strike based on a
trigger event conducted by the Israeli defense forces, enabled by
the US intelligence community. The first shooters at sea were
Tomahawks unleashed by the United States Navy, closed in on
Iranian naval forces and began to conduct strikes across the
(19:23):
southern flank in Iran. On the ground forces fired precision
standoff weapons measured deliberate, precise, and lethal. This was a massive,
overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking more than
one thousand targets.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
In the first twenty four hours.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
We are now roughly fifty seven hours into the operation.
In the initial phase. Sentcom's focus was systematic targeting of Iranians,
command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and
intelligence in structure designed to daze and confuse them. Coordinated
(20:04):
space and cyber operations effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks
across the area of responsibility, leaving the adversary without the
ability to see, coordinate, or respond effectively. The combined impact
of these strikes, swift, precise, and overwhelming, has resulted in
(20:25):
the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will
not only enhance the protection of our forces, but also
allow them to continue.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
The work over Iran.
Speaker 8 (20:38):
Over the course of the last two days, the Joint
Force has launched hundreds of missions from land and sea
and delivered tens of thousands of pieces of ordinance. The
effort continues to scale. This included American B two bombers, which,
again similar to Midnight Hammer, flew a thirty seven hour
round trip SORTI from the continental United States, dropping precision
(21:02):
penetrating munitions on Iranian underground facilities across the southern flank
and slightly deeper.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Today, in their desperation, the enemy is unmasked as Iranian
missiles and drones rained down indiscriminately on the hotels, airports, apartments,
and other civilian targets of their neighbors. Cowardly terrorist tactics
from a regime that for decades has trafficked in cowardly
(21:32):
terrorist tactics, lies, death and destruction. To this day, the
Iranian leadership has built nothing except proxies and missiles and
drones and deeply buried nuclear factories and facilities. Peaceful nuclear
ambitions do not need to be buried underneath mountains. Last June,
(21:55):
Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated their nuclear program to rubble. Afterward,
we told them plainly, that's it. Now make a deal.
They arrogantly refused. We said, rebuild it, and we'll stop
you again, this time far worse. Well, President Trump, Secretary Rubio,
Steve Whitcoff, Jared Kushner. They bent over backwards for real diplomacy,
(22:18):
offering pathway after pathway to peace. I watched it.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I was there.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
They tried, over and over and over again, earnest attempts
at peace. The former regime had every chance to make
a peaceful and sensible deal, but Taran was not negotiating.
They were stalling, buying time to reload their missile stockpiles
and restart their nuclear ambitions. Their goal hold US hostage,
(22:46):
threatening to strike our forces. Well, President Trump doesn't play
those games, And as Secretary Rubio said after the Maduro raid,
if you don't know, now you know. President Trump puts
America and Americans first. He doesn't hesitate, and neither do
our troops. The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser focused.
(23:11):
Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their
navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have
nuclear weapons. We're hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
On February twenty eighth, the full strength of America's armed
forces came together in a unified purpose against a capable
and determined adversary. The United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
Air Force, Space Force, Coastguard, and our reserve components integrated
our cross our combatant commands and began coordinated operations with
(23:50):
the Israeli armed forces of an unprecedented scale. As the
Secretary laid out, our military objectives are clear. Our mission
is to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our
regional partners, prevent ran from the ability to project power
outside of its borders and be ready for follow on
(24:10):
actions as appropriate. Across every domain, land, air, sea, cyber,
the US Joint Force delivered synchronized and layered effects designed
to disrupt, degrade, deny, and destroy Iran's ability to conduct
and sustain combat operations.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
On the US side.
Speaker 8 (24:31):
This marked the culmination of months and in some cases years,
of deliberate planning and refinement against this particular target set.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
From precision strikes.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
Against key military infrastructure, to persistent intelligence and targeting integration,
to the close coordination of the components across vast distances.
This operation again demonstrated America's reach, readiness, and professionalism and
that of our joint United Force. It was historic not
(25:04):
only in the operational scope, but in the level of
joint integration displayed across every element of the Joint Force.
And as I said earlier, this work is just beginning
and will continue.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Two days ago, under the direction and direct orders of
President Donald J. Trump, the Department of War launched Operation
Epic Fury, the most lethal, most complex, and most precise
aerial operation in history. For forty seven long years, the
expansionist and Islamist regime in Tehran has waged as savage,
(25:38):
one sided war against America. They didn't always declare it openly,
except for their constant chance of death to America. They
did it through the blood of our people, car bombs
in Beirut, rocket attacks on our ships, murders at our embassy's,
roadside bombs in Iraq, in Afghanistan, funded and armed by
(25:59):
Iran in KOD's Force and IRGC killers. My generation of
veterans carried the names of brothers who never came home,
brothers butchered by Iranian backed roadside bombs and well armed militias,
thousands of our own. We didn't start this war, but
(26:20):
under President Trump, we are finishing it. Their war on
Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatola and his
death cult. It took the forty seventh president, a fighter
who always puts America first, to finally draw the line
after forty seven years of Iranian belligerents. He reminded the world,
(26:43):
as he has time and time again, being an American
means something unbreakable. If you kill Americans, if you threaten
Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without
apology and without hesitation. And we will kill you.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All right. That was earlier this morning.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
That was the Secretary of War Pete Hegseeth and the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force, General Dan Kane,
Raising Kane as he's often effectually referred to, talking about
the objective of the operation, how clear it was protecting
US interest in the Middle East, ending the Iranian ability
to project offensive power outside of their borders. Pretty amazing stuff.
(27:27):
If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
All right.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We love the very latest as this ongoing conflict continues
against Iran. Unbelievable operation epic Fury. We'll have all the
latest developments. We have the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Att Yahoo.
We have Senator John Fetterman will join us. We have
Senator Lindsay Graham will join us. We are just loaded
(27:52):
up tonight. Anyway, say you DVR tonight Hannity nine Eastern
on the Fox News channel, as we will have the
best coverage of all of this, probably on nine to
eleven tonight is the plan currently and look forward. I'll
stay on for ten hours if they let me, Linda,
I just I can't get enough, and I'm gonna be
(28:13):
home watching it anyway, and watching every second of every
day anyway. We'll see you tonight, back here tomorrow. Oh
we also have David Betraeus. I think I said. We
just got a great lineup, great people. Nine Eastern Hannity
on Fox. We'll see you then back here tomorrow. Thank
you for making the show possible.
All right, news round up in Information Overload hour. Here's
our toll free number. We will get to your calls.
Eight hundred and nine point one seawn our number if
you want to be a part of the program. You
know it's not a joke. I mean, it was kind
of funny when the US hockey gold medal winning hockey
team was called out by the President during the State
of the Union and the President goes, oh, for the
(00:21):
first time, they actually stood, but not all of them.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I mean that was funny.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Or when they stood when he said that you can't
have insider trading, and he asked, well, is Nancy Pelosi's
staying It was all pretty funny. If Donald Trump cured cancer,
I don't think Democrats would stand as they sat on
their hands, as as so many great Americans and families
that had lost loved ones because of illegal immigrants were honored.
(00:48):
They didn't care. They just had Donald Trump to that level.
And this is a great thing that has happened. The
world is a better, safer place as a result. And yeah,
there's still more to do. I don't want to get
ahead of ourselves. And I think now that you know,
as soon as we can possibly turn it over to
the Iranian people, the better it's going to be. But then,
(01:10):
of course you have the congenital liar and people like him,
you know, Adam Schiff.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Oh, they pose no imminent threat to the US.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
This was an existential threat not just to the region
but to the entire world, which is why every Arab
country in the world, you know, in the region has
has had it with them. They've they've all aligned with
the US and Israel against Iranian hegemony and a nuclear
armed Iran. Anyway, here's the congenital liar, Adam Schiff in.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Ayatoa how many letter regime that brutalize its own people,
wash attacks around the world for for almost forty years.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
So is the president right to take him out?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
No, you're right about the I told that he was
a brutal dictator. This is a murderous regime, but at
the same time, it posed no imminent threat of attack
to the United States.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
He word no imminent threat you mean in the next hour.
I mean, it's just so asinine. And this is where
the great disappointment with Great Britain and Europe in general,
and Spain and France and Macron. I mean, they've given
up any commitment towards their own identities. They won't even
(02:18):
protect their own continent, their own countries. They have neglected
national security and defense. They've embraced climate alarmism to a
point where they're bankrupting themselves. They've embraced socialist policies that
are killing their economy, and then they have this unfettered
illegal immigration without assimilation, resulting in eighty five sureia courts
(02:42):
in Great Britain. This is a prescription for disaster and
it will be of their own making. It's as bad
as everything Biden, Harris may Orchis did. And no go
zones in countries within Europe. That's crazy too. It's only
one Democrat. You'll be all with those again tonight. John
Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who's been very outspoken saying that this
(03:06):
needed to be done. Here's what he said Sunday.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Well, because that was.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Always the right thing. I mean, you can just put out,
you know, tweets and statements you know, to support peace,
but to actually create real peace you have to do
these kinds of actions just like happened, just like last
year too, when they to destroy their nuclear facilities. You know,
sometimes peace is possible after these kinds of steps, and
(03:31):
that's why I support those things. And you know, I
listened to my colleague from South Carolina earlier and I
even had the option, I mean to talk to him
before the State of the Union speech, and I encouraged
it as well. And so I fully support these kinds
of things. And I'm proud to stand with our military
and Israel through this. And that's what's the right thing.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Linda lives in Pennsylvania, I'm sure you'd vote for John federerman,
Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
No, He's better than most of the Republicans. It really is.
Let me play for you.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Mauj Madara, co founder of the Iranian dispor Collective and
a Democrat, saying she's disappointed with the Democratic Party over
their response to these Iranian strikes. They need to get
past their hatred of Donald Trump.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Listen.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
I think that it is imperative the Democratic Party wake
up and get past their dislike of Donald Trump, the
President Trump, and their feelings of international conflicts going on.
This is about national security. This is about what is
possible in the Middle East. This is about being a
good partner to our the Gulf States and what their
aspirations are. This is about supporting the people of Venezuela.
(04:46):
This is about dismembering our relationship with or not dismembering,
but resetting our relationship with China. Right now, fifty five
percent of the oil production that Uran produces goes to
China despite sanctions. You want to support the people of Ukraine,
you want to end that word, you have to. There
is no getting around dismembering this Islamic Republic. It is
non negotiable. It is not a want to have, it
(05:08):
does a have to have. And it's not just for
the Iranian people. I think you have to trust the
Iranian people.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
We know this.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
Government better than anyone else, and I think at this
point we have a tremendous opportunity. This will be like
ending the Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall. This is a
transformational moment for humankind, for security and as an American,
As an American, this is in our interest.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It complete it.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
So.
Speaker 7 (05:29):
I am a democrat. I have been a huge democrat.
I am incredibly disappointed with my party. I do not
see myself in them in this moment.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
We're going to be joined in a moment by Greg Roman,
Executive Director of the Middle East forum with his comments
takeaways from the developments related to the Mid East following
these strikes, successful strikes and of course the Supreme Leader
and Ali Hamani dead, forty others dead with the opening
(05:59):
salvo and what was just unbelievable. I mean, you talk
about shock awe on steroids and human growth hormone.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
This was it.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
But anyway, they have pointed out that with all of this,
the joint US is rarely strikes hitting over you know,
five hundred targets I guess getting closer to one thousand
at this point against across twenty four of Iran's thirty
one provinces. Approximately forty senior military intelligence officials have been killed.
(06:29):
And you know Iran, you know, with all their retaliation,
they just seem to be shooting haphazardly at every country
in the region. Greg Roman, let's get your thoughts on
where we are and what will it take for the
Iranian people to do what President Trump has told them
to do, which is, you know, that take advantage of
the fact that their hour hand is here and they've
(06:51):
asked been asking for this help, that they need to
sieze this moment. Don't let it pass. It's likely the
one shot they'll have for generations and you know what
happens next.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
Well, thank you Sean for having me on air. And
I think right now we're at the point where the
current regime, the Islamist Islamic Republic of Iran regime, is
trying to create trip wires for members of the Iranian
opposition inside the country, in neighboring countries and more especially
in the diaspora to try to accept the FATA company
(07:24):
where they will have to tie their fate to the
future of the American and Israeli and now Gulf Arab
campaign in Iran. But the long play is to make
sure that the American national security architecture and the Israeli
bombers and increasingly now we have Arab air forces which
are engaging in skirmishes against the Iranian air force, with
(07:47):
reports of Katari Air Force su twenty force Suko A
twenty fours being taken out or taking out Irani and
Suko twenty fours, where the Iranian opposition is to realize
it's make or break to get their act together and
not to be entirely reliant on the US and Israel
to push the Iranian regime off the cliffs they have
(08:09):
to push too. And if they don't get into that
position of regime disruption, of setting up forward operating bases,
of enabling these one hundred thousand individuals who allegedly have
prepared to defect from the IRGC, from the arteesche the
Iranian Army, then I think this is going to be
an opportunity that they will blow. But if they do
(08:31):
the right moves, if they don't repeat an Ahmed Chalabi moment,
they don't repeat a Hamid Karzai moment, they will repeat
Khadafi downfall moment. There is a narrow window for them
to have a controlled implosion where the state does not
go into chaos, but they are able to maintain a
pooralistic transition to power, where we take President Trump's offer
of amnesty and truth and reconciliation and we move Iran
(08:54):
from being on the Chinese Russian side of the board
and at the bare minimum move them to initial act.
And there's a big opportunity for that. Right now.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Roman is with us. He is the executive director of
the Middle East Forum. What's next for Iran is our discussion.
Explain in more detail what you're envisioning happens here. I mean,
I know you have disparate groups, and Raisa Pavlavi is
one group. Earlier in the program we had on Ali
sofo v of a member of Iran's parliament and exile
(09:25):
National Council of Resistance of Iran not particularly fond of
pub LAB. I mean, the last thing we need is
an intramural squabble when everyone needs to pull in the
same direction and really give the people of Iran the choice. Again,
as the President said, they likely won't get back. You know,
this is once in a generation chance for.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Them, right, And I think that sometimes you end up
having more disagreements with members of the Iranian opposition than
you do with my synagogue board of directors. But that's
the story for another time.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
You have how bad are things that your synagogue board
of directors?
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Well, you know, you say two Jews, three opinions, you
have two versions, twenty one opinions. But you end up
going to a position where right now the MEK and
the Polavi camp have sort of you know, coalaced around
two figures, right, two individuals who are personalities. But personalities
don't represent movements. If you look at groups like the
(10:22):
Iranian Freedom Congress, which got together in London last week.
You take the broad cross section of Iranian society, both
inside the country and outside, and what the Mek and Pelagi,
what have you believe is that an exile of five
million Iranians in the diaspora can speak to and speak
four ninety two million Iranians who are inside the country.
(10:43):
But even if you look at all the public opinion
polls that were done prior to December twenty seventh, when
the latest round of protests started, the shop probably only
gets around thirty one percent at a maximum. And if
you look at the NCRI, the Mek who was represented
by your speaker in the last hour, they pull around
point zero two print. So they do not speak for
(11:07):
the Iranian people inside the country. But this group that
got together last week were former members of the regime
who are now in exile, Individuals who represent teachers, Arab
oil workers, the whole cross section of Azeris and Baluchis
and Kurds and mainstream Persians and monarchists and Republicans, thirty
eight different parties representing I would argue about sixty five
(11:32):
million of those ninety two million Iranians at least that
have some sort of representation got together in London and
they all agreed on one thing. Let's put our problems aside,
make way for the regime to fall, and then we
can work with what's left to be able to make
sure that we have traffic police and the airport's running,
and the water is being served in the dog catchers
(11:53):
on time, and we're able to reopen up the trade
for that country. And they have a whole planet they
put together. But more certainly it's not based on personalities.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's representative who's got this plan, who's going to take
charge of that plan, and how quickly can we get
to elections.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
So elections they believe would be able to take place
within six months, and a referendum for a consultative Assembly
that would then be able to get fourth in one year,
and they would take the way in which the Iranian
system works right now and basically adapt that to not
be Islamis, but they to be democratic. And more than that,
you already have entities right now that have existed inside
the country for the past twenty five years that are
(12:33):
not tied to the regime. If you remember, before the
Twelve Day War back in June, there was a nationwide
truck driver's strike that took place in Iran between like
June first and June seventh. These people are at that table.
If it looks three years ago with the Women Life
Freedom movement that were behind Masamini, these people are at
the table. Three Irani and Nobel laureates, individuals who control
(12:54):
the Couraged Democratic Party under Hajiri five million, the Komala
Party another three million under Abdola Matadi. You really have
a cross section here that would be able to say
we're not going to try to go in a debatification
process that ruined e Rock back in two thousand and three.
We learned our lesson from twenty three years ago, and
(13:14):
we're going to do this the way that Lexilla says.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Okay, but Greg, what about the holdovers?
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You know there will be old revolutionary guard that cling
to the life that they had. How do we weed
them out?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
Percent? One hundred percent? And I think that, as I
said beforehand, there has to be a truth and reconciliation
process where look, if you were found responsible for helping
massacre thirty forty fifty thousand members of your country, where
you were involved in hangings in the eighties or massacres
in the nineties, then you're going to have to own
up to that. But if you were a bureaucrat, if
(13:46):
you were the head of the Central Bank, in charge
of the oil ministry, and you just hitched your cart
to the Iatolas horse because you had to do that
to survive, there's also an opportunity to be able to
solve that as well. And I think that just like
you had in Eastern European countries after the fall of
the Wall and reconciliation, even the way that we've looked
at it with East Germany, you have to own up
to your mistakes, and if they're too great, you're going
(14:08):
to be put into jail. But if it was part
of just the way that the government was governed for
the last forty seven years, we'll give you an opportunity
to have respite with us. And if they move in
that direction, I think you really have the opportunity for
a easy transition, but it has to be done under
the threat of American and Israeli superior air power. You're
either with us or you're against us, but not with
(14:29):
any American or Israeli boots on the ground. Has to
be the Iranians making.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Their own decis it's never going to happen under Donald Trump.
I'm telling you right now, won't happen. And I think
that at some point there are hours at hand. They've
asked for this help. They better seize the moment and
not let it pass. As the President said, Greg Roman,
good to talk to you, man. I appreciate it. Great analysis.
Eight hundred and nine to four one, Sean, if you
(14:53):
want to be a part of the program, Linda, I
don't know if you noticed this. Did you notice Hanoi?
Jane is back? Oh, she's the worst, branding Donald Trump
a sad, unhinged man while denouncing him for launching deadly
strikes in Iran. Who cares what she said or any
of these other idiots? Mark Ruffalo, who are the other
(15:15):
idiots in Hollywood?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
I mean, if they hadn't.
Speaker 7 (15:18):
A much shorter list to name the ones that aren't,
to be perfectly frank.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
That's a good way to do it. Good point.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
The Pentagon officials earlier today, General raising Kine, this guy's phenomenal,
just an absolute genius. Secretary of War Pete Hegseeth the
Pentagon announcing that US force has struck more than a
thousand targets in Iran. During the first twenty four hours
of Operation Epic Fury, the joint US Israeli led airstrike
(15:53):
mission that killed with in its opening salvo, the Supreme
Leader the the Ayahtola Ali Hamani, and other security officials,
Air Force General Dan Kaine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs,
telling reporters at the Pentagon, that the objective of the
operation was clear to protect US interest in the Middle
(16:14):
East by ending Iran's ability to project offensive power outside
of their borders. This marked a culmination of months and
in some cases years, of deliverer planning refinement against this
particular target set, from precision strikes against key military infrastructure
to persistent intelligence and targeting integration. And he, along with
(16:37):
Pete Hegseth, you know, gave a very very powerful briefing today.
I think it's worth taking time because I know most
of you were not up at eight o'clock in the morning.
If you were, you were shoveling coffee down your throat
and feeding your kids and trying to get them off
to school and start your day. So let me bring
you up to speed because this is actually, you know,
(16:58):
pretty spectacl amazing and you should have a sense of
great pride that we have the greatest military in the
face of God's green earth.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Let's play this.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
At fifteen thirty eight three thirty eight PM on Friday,
February twenty seventh, the United States Central Command, through the
Secretary of War, received the final goal order from President Trump.
The President directed and I quote Operation Epic Furies approved.
Noah borts good luck close quote. In the region, every
(17:30):
element of the Joint Force made their final preparations. Air
defense batteries ready themselves, checking their systems to respond to
Iranian attacks. Pilots and crews rehearse their strike packages for
the final time. Aircrews began loading their final weapons, and
two carrier strike groups began to move towards their launching
points across the globe. Our operation centers came alive in Tampa, Florida,
(17:55):
here at the Pentagon, and of course forward in the
Central Command a war. As always, operational security was paramount
as we sought to maintain and sustain the element of surprise.
This operation was highly classified, so that at each hour
the enemy would see one thing speed, surprise, and violence
(18:17):
of action. The first movers were US Cybercom and US
Space com layering non kinetic effects disrupting and degrading and
blinding Iran's ability to see, communicate, and respond. At h hour,
the beginning of major combat operations zero one fifteen Local
(18:39):
Eastern daylight time nine to forty five local am Tehran time.
As dawn crept up across the Central Command air the
sky surge to life. More than one hundred aircraft launch
from land, sea fighters, tankers, airborne early warning electronic attack
bombers from the States, and unmanned platforms, forming a single
(19:01):
synchronized wave. This was a daylight strike based on a
trigger event conducted by the Israeli defense forces, enabled by
the US intelligence community. The first shooters at sea were
Tomahawks unleashed by the United States Navy, closed in on
Iranian naval forces and began to conduct strikes across the
(19:23):
southern flank in Iran. On the ground forces fired precision
standoff weapons measured deliberate, precise, and lethal. This was a massive,
overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking more than
one thousand targets.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
In the first twenty four hours.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
We are now roughly fifty seven hours into the operation.
In the initial phase. Sentcom's focus was systematic targeting of Iranians,
command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and
intelligence in structure designed to daze and confuse them. Coordinated
(20:04):
space and cyber operations effectively disrupted communications and sensor networks
across the area of responsibility, leaving the adversary without the
ability to see, coordinate, or respond effectively. The combined impact
of these strikes, swift, precise, and overwhelming, has resulted in
(20:25):
the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will
not only enhance the protection of our forces, but also
allow them to continue.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
The work over Iran.
Speaker 8 (20:38):
Over the course of the last two days, the Joint
Force has launched hundreds of missions from land and sea
and delivered tens of thousands of pieces of ordinance. The
effort continues to scale. This included American B two bombers, which,
again similar to Midnight Hammer, flew a thirty seven hour
round trip SORTI from the continental United States, dropping precision
(21:02):
penetrating munitions on Iranian underground facilities across the southern flank
and slightly deeper.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Today, in their desperation, the enemy is unmasked as Iranian
missiles and drones rained down indiscriminately on the hotels, airports, apartments,
and other civilian targets of their neighbors. Cowardly terrorist tactics
from a regime that for decades has trafficked in cowardly
(21:32):
terrorist tactics, lies, death and destruction. To this day, the
Iranian leadership has built nothing except proxies and missiles and
drones and deeply buried nuclear factories and facilities. Peaceful nuclear
ambitions do not need to be buried underneath mountains. Last June,
(21:55):
Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated their nuclear program to rubble. Afterward,
we told them plainly, that's it. Now make a deal.
They arrogantly refused. We said, rebuild it, and we'll stop
you again, this time far worse. Well, President Trump, Secretary Rubio,
Steve Whitcoff, Jared Kushner. They bent over backwards for real diplomacy,
(22:18):
offering pathway after pathway to peace. I watched it.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I was there.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
They tried, over and over and over again, earnest attempts
at peace. The former regime had every chance to make
a peaceful and sensible deal, but Taran was not negotiating.
They were stalling, buying time to reload their missile stockpiles
and restart their nuclear ambitions. Their goal hold US hostage,
(22:46):
threatening to strike our forces. Well, President Trump doesn't play
those games, And as Secretary Rubio said after the Maduro raid,
if you don't know, now you know. President Trump puts
America and Americans first. He doesn't hesitate, and neither do
our troops. The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser focused.
(23:11):
Destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their
navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have
nuclear weapons. We're hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly, and unapologetically.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
On February twenty eighth, the full strength of America's armed
forces came together in a unified purpose against a capable
and determined adversary. The United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
Air Force, Space Force, Coastguard, and our reserve components integrated
our cross our combatant commands and began coordinated operations with
(23:50):
the Israeli armed forces of an unprecedented scale. As the
Secretary laid out, our military objectives are clear. Our mission
is to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our
regional partners, prevent ran from the ability to project power
outside of its borders and be ready for follow on
(24:10):
actions as appropriate. Across every domain, land, air, sea, cyber,
the US Joint Force delivered synchronized and layered effects designed
to disrupt, degrade, deny, and destroy Iran's ability to conduct
and sustain combat operations.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
On the US side.
Speaker 8 (24:31):
This marked the culmination of months and in some cases years,
of deliberate planning and refinement against this particular target set.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
From precision strikes.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
Against key military infrastructure, to persistent intelligence and targeting integration,
to the close coordination of the components across vast distances.
This operation again demonstrated America's reach, readiness, and professionalism and
that of our joint United Force. It was historic not
(25:04):
only in the operational scope, but in the level of
joint integration displayed across every element of the Joint Force.
And as I said earlier, this work is just beginning
and will continue.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Two days ago, under the direction and direct orders of
President Donald J. Trump, the Department of War launched Operation
Epic Fury, the most lethal, most complex, and most precise
aerial operation in history. For forty seven long years, the
expansionist and Islamist regime in Tehran has waged as savage,
(25:38):
one sided war against America. They didn't always declare it openly,
except for their constant chance of death to America. They
did it through the blood of our people, car bombs
in Beirut, rocket attacks on our ships, murders at our embassy's,
roadside bombs in Iraq, in Afghanistan, funded and armed by
(25:59):
Iran in KOD's Force and IRGC killers. My generation of
veterans carried the names of brothers who never came home,
brothers butchered by Iranian backed roadside bombs and well armed militias,
thousands of our own. We didn't start this war, but
(26:20):
under President Trump, we are finishing it. Their war on
Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatola and his
death cult. It took the forty seventh president, a fighter
who always puts America first, to finally draw the line
after forty seven years of Iranian belligerents. He reminded the world,
(26:43):
as he has time and time again, being an American
means something unbreakable. If you kill Americans, if you threaten
Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without
apology and without hesitation. And we will kill you.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All right. That was earlier this morning.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
That was the Secretary of War Pete Hegseeth and the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force, General Dan Kane,
Raising Kane as he's often effectually referred to, talking about
the objective of the operation, how clear it was protecting
US interest in the Middle East, ending the Iranian ability
to project offensive power outside of their borders. Pretty amazing stuff.
(27:27):
If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
All right.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
We love the very latest as this ongoing conflict continues
against Iran. Unbelievable operation epic Fury. We'll have all the
latest developments. We have the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Att Yahoo.
We have Senator John Fetterman will join us. We have
Senator Lindsay Graham will join us. We are just loaded
(27:52):
up tonight. Anyway, say you DVR tonight Hannity nine Eastern
on the Fox News channel, as we will have the
best coverage of all of this, probably on nine to
eleven tonight is the plan currently and look forward. I'll
stay on for ten hours if they let me, Linda,
I just I can't get enough, and I'm gonna be
(28:13):
home watching it anyway, and watching every second of every
day anyway. We'll see you tonight, back here tomorrow. Oh
we also have David Betraeus. I think I said. We
just got a great lineup, great people. Nine Eastern Hannity
on Fox. We'll see you then back here tomorrow. Thank
you for making the show possible.
The Sean Hannity Show News
Host
Sean Hannity
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